Game of Thrones "Unbowed, Unbent, Unbroken" (Season 5, Ep. 6) [TV Review]

Unbelievable? Unforgivable? Unfortunate? Unfaithful? I can go on...
At this point in the series, if you are a fan of the books, you are probably alternately scratching your head in confusion or cheering for what you hope is to come.

The creepy hall of faces is probably one of the best parts of the entire episode.

No, seriously, this is both creepy and cool.

This review will be shorter than some of my other GoT reviews. I was just not thrilled with the episode and I am exhausted. Those two things combined mean I really don't want to put in the effort I usually do.

3.5 out of 5 stars

And Arya begins to really understand what it is she is doing.

I'm not dropping it down to three, despite the fact that I probably should, mainly because of Arya's part, the clever writing around Reek/Theon, Tyrion and Jorah's part, and the singing of Bronn. Yes, Bronn sings, and it is one of the better parts of the episode.

Arya in the House of Black and White moves her character forward, we are seeing her change. She is, perhaps, at long last, on her way to being a faceless.

Tyrion informs Jorah that both their fathers are dead. The difference lies in the fact that Jeor Mormont was a good man, and Tywin was not. Jeor was betrayed by the Night's Watch and murdered. Tyrion was betrayed by his father and murdered him. That was way he fled across the sea he explains to Jorah. 

They are quickly captured by slavers, and this leads to them once again headed for Meereen. Jorah can fight in the fighting pits. Tyrion is merely trying to keep both his head and his veg attached. 

Oh, I forgot about Petyr Baelish's bit. He has an awesome line to Lancel, "We both peddle fantasies Brother Lancel. Mine just happen to be entertaining." Still one of my favorite characters. However, I now have no idea what the hell he is actually up to. The whole thing with Winterfell and the Warden of the North has become rather convoluted. 

Jamie's actions in Dorn are borderline stupid. The Sand Snakes seem incompetent. Mycella and Trystane are either stupid or naive, or both. Thankfully Areo Hotah is still a bad-ass. He and Doran Martell seem to be the only smart people in Dorn at the moment. Well, Bronn is on the ball, but he is following the lead of someone who took advice from (or was urged to action by) his increasingly unstable sister.

"It will be a dwarf-sized cock."
"Guess again!"

The wedding... the bit after, that is really damn dark.
And way too fantasy cliched...

Then we return to King's Landing where Loras Tyrell is having his trial by the Faith Militant. Oh, this is a good idea. Allowing religion to hold trials that exceed the laws of the land... brilliant. That always ends well... oh, wait. It never ends well. The history of the real world has shown, beyond the shadow of doubt, that allowing religions to hold their own court's and trials and be beholden to their own laws is a really really really stupid thing to do. It always ends badly. This is where Margaery becomes another victim of the Faith Militant. Soon, Cersei, soon... I cannot wait. The only upside to this whole bit? The return of the Queen of Thorns.

In the North we have the wedding of Sansa. Before that though, we have Myranda trying to scare Sansa by telling her of Ramsay's 'hunts.' It feels very odd, that in an episode filled with lies, deceptions, and feints, the only person who really tells the truth is doing it to scare someone. (Tyrion was mostly telling the truth, although he perhaps did embellish a bit about Jorah). Back to the Wedding. It occurs. Sansa marries Ramsay. (This is not what happened in the books, at all... well... it did, but the girl was not Sansa.) Then we are witness to a disgustingly sick scene. Ramsay forces Reek/Theon to stay and watch as he rapes Sansa on their wedding night. Reek/Theon stands there watching and crying.

Certainly not my favorite episode this season. In fact this season seems to be, on the whole, not nearly as good as last season. Perhaps the last four episodes will correct this downward spiraling course. Something needs to happen, and soon. I dunno... maybe I was spoiled watching all those Disney films. Maybe a strong solid story that actually moves forward spoiled me, but right now Game of Thrones needs to rediscover it's core, or refocus, or something...

This week's death count is once again short:
- Terminally Ill Girl at the House of Black and White.

Previous Game of Thrones reviews:

Season 5:
- The Wars to Come (Ep1)
- The House of Black and White (Ep2)
- High Sparrow (Ep3)
- Sons of the Harpy (Ep4)
- Kill the Boy (Ep5)

Season 4:
- Two Swords (Ep1)
- The Lion and the Rose (Ep2)
- Breaker of Chains (Ep3)
- Oathkeeper (Ep4)
- The First of His Name (Ep5)
- The Laws of Gods and Men (Ep6) 
- Mockingbird (Ep7)
- The Mountain and the Viper (Ep8)
- The Watchers on the Wall (Ep9)
- The Children (Ep10)